“The child by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth” UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Monday, January 2, 2012

A celebration of motherhood

The followingreflection was brought to my attention recently, and I would like to share it with you.It was written by Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty, who was Primate of Hungary in the 1940s.

The most Important Person on earth is a mother.She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral.She need not.She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral – a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby’s body … The angels have not been blessed with such a grace.They cannot share in God’s creative miracle to bring new saints to Heaven.Only a human mother can.Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creature; God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation … What on God’s good earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?

This is in stark contrast to the UN CEDAW Committee which is intent on eliminating all traditional stereotypes without any discernment as to which ones may or may not be beneficial to marriage and which ones may be actually harmful.

This committee has in the past criticised many nations for not abolishing stereotypes for women in the role of "Mother" and they want to abolish "Mothers Day" which they see as a "sex role stereotype".

Pat Buckley

I was born in Galway, Ireland where I attended first Scoil Fhursa and then St Ignatius (Jesuit) College. My family moved to Cork in 1960 and I spent my last year at the Christian Brothers College in Mc Curtain street Cork (CBC).

I came to Dublin in 1963 where I met and married my wife Philomena. We have lived in Dublin since then and have been blessed with seven children and 17 grandchildren (so far). When I finished school I studied architecture through the professional institutions and I am a retired Member of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (MRIAI). I also hold a BSc. in psychology and political philosophy.

I currently lobby pro-life and pro-family issues at the United Nations in New York and Geneva and occasionally at the European Parliament and Council of Europe. I am a member of the pro-life, pro-family coalition operating within the international institutions and I am a consultant to the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children SPUC on UN and related matters.

Between 1978-85, as a married couple Philomena and I were involved in the presentation of Marriage Encounter Weekends and pre-marriage courses. We also represented Worldwide Marriage Encounter on a committee for the family in the Dublin Archdiocese. Between 1985-1988. I was appointed National Secretary and then President of the Catholic Secondary Schools Parents Association (CSPA). I have been lobbying pro-life issue at the UN for upwards of 12 years.

I am a past President of the National Association of Catholic Families (NACF)

Publications:

1997: Anthology of pro-life verse

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